Forest statistics for Florida, 1987

Abstract

Since 1980, area of timberland in Florida was decreased by 4 percent to less than 15.0 million acres. Area of nonindustrial private forest land has declined 12 percent to 7.1 million acres. Area harvested and retained in timberland averaged 296,000 acres annually. An average of 272,000 acres regenerated annually. 72 percent of which occurred through artificial methods. The area in pine plantations rose 23 percent to 4.0 million acres. Volume of softwood growing stock increased only 1 percent to 9.3 billion cubic feet, whereas volume of hardwood growing stock increased 11 percent to 5.7 billion cubic feet. Average basal area of live trees 5.0 inches of d.b.h. and larger increased from 53 to 55 square feet per acre. Average net annual growth decreased 20 percent to 628 million cubic feet. Softwood removals increased 3 percent to 474 million cubic feet and hardwood removals decreased 25 percent to 66 million cubic feet. Annual mortality was up 16 percent to 122 million cubic feet.

Keywords

timberland, land use trends, timberland ownership, timber volume, timber growth, timber removals

Citation

Brown, Mark J.; Thompson, Michael T. 1988. Forest statistics for Florida, 1987. Resour. Bull. SE-101. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 61 p.